Keyring Folders: The Last Resort.

[fatcorgi]

@jackknife. Still a really valued knife, I make sure not to push it too hard, but it gets out a bit.

looks like the vic 58mm models are our favourite back up knives. Does anyone have another old lobster that they use?

 

[R.c.s]

I am loving the SAK pouches :thumbup:..

 

[okbohn]

Seen a few of these types of knives on the forum recently and have been carrying this one on my keyring for the past five years. I consider it a last resort for when I forget my Vic farmer or one or other of my smaller folders. I expect there may have been similar threads posted on the subject but I would be interested to see what folders you may be carrying with your keys.

Untitled by Mark Saunders, on Flickr

I had one of those when I was a kid. I have very fond memories of it.

 

[Blake the Blade]

I'd say save your money. Just take a classic to a good leather guy and have a sheath mad from some good heavy belt grade leather. Something that will last for years, instead of months. Stitched with some good waxed linen or nylon thread, you'll be way ahead of the game.

Thanks Jack but I wasn't joking when a mentioned Mrs Blade. I consider myself to be a lucky man in that what that women cant do with a needle and thread ain't worth talking about. I am convinced that presented with a suitable scrap of leather, your example as a template and the correct inducements on my part, that this one could well be in the bag. Perhaps I could talk her into mass-production, given the discontinuation of the victorinox sheaths, but fear this would involve a level of inducement beyond my current capabilities. I'll let you know how I get on. :thumbup:

 

[Blake the Blade]

I had one of those when I was a kid. I have very fond memories of it.

Apparently, and as far as I know Derrick, these were often given away free at petrol stations and restaurants across America during the 1970's. For what it's worth the text on the bottle-opener/screwdriver of mine reads - Bassett USA 73 PATD 2779098. Could be forty years old.

 

[jackknife]

Apparently, and as far as I know Derrick, these were often given away free at petrol stations and restaurants across America during the 1970's. For what it's worth the text on the bottle-opener/screwdriver of mine reads - Bassett USA 73 PATD 2779098. Could be forty years old.

What's interesting is, these little cheap keychain knives were the first and sometimes only resort of their owners back in the day. I remember in the 1950's, every five-and-dime had the stand up cardboard display up by the cash register with these knives on them. Feed stores and auto parts stores had give away knives when you bought certain products that were being promoted. Purina, Champion, Goodyear all had little keychain knives that were freebees if you bought the right items.

Think about t it, back then it was a given that every man had a pocket knife on him. Many of the women folk had one in their purse. Most people were not knife nuts, but they did need a small knife to go through life back then. Boxes didn't have pull tabs to open, things were tied up with white twine that needed cutting. I would hazard a guess that more non knife people carried a little freebee keychain knife than not. I know my Uncle Paul who worked as a machinist at the Curtis-Wright engine plant in Patterson New Jersey, always had one or two cracked ice little jacks that had the logo of some machine tool company. Bridgeport mills, TRW, another tool companies. He did a lot of work with those cheap little carbon steel blades.

 

[pertinux]

In which I always have scissors along.

(Thank you again, pmew!)

Well, I mean, I am seldom "underknifed," shall we say?

But I do always have scissors along.

~ P.

 

[supratentorial]

Here are a couple comparison photos of the Leather & Synthetic Victorinox keychain sheaths and also a similar keychain sheath from Opinel.

The problem with the synthetic sheath is that the material is thin and it breaks. The leather is much thicker and durable.




I think this Opinel sheath is pretty cool also but the ring is not the best so I usually replace it with a stronger ring.

 

[navihawk]

I've had this old celluloid on my car keys for a few years now. When you use a celluloid knife the celluloid wears well and doesn't shrink.

 

[JB in SC]

Apparently, and as far as I know Derrick, these were often given away free at petrol stations and restaurants across America during the 1970's. For what it's worth the text on the bottle-opener/screwdriver of mine reads - Bassett USA 73 PATD 2779098. Could be forty years old.

Trim still makes one, probably made in China now.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

That little Opinel and sheath look really cool. I always have a Vic Classic on my keychain. A few months ago I replaced mine with an alox version. I love it because it's thinner, but man do I miss those tweezers every once in a while!

 

[supergnat]

That little Opinel and sheath look really cool. I always have a Vic Classic on my keychain. A few months ago I replaced mine with an alox version. I love it because it's thinner, but man do I miss those tweezers every once in a while!

I've had a Classic on my keychain forever and I'd never give up the tweezers. The blade and the toothpick never get used, but I constantly use the scissors, nail file, and tweezers.

 

[jc57]

I carry nothing actually on my keyring but keys and the electronic fob thingy that opens and starts my car (keyless ignition).

I carry at least one keyring sized knife or multitool on me, though usually loose in a pocket or clipped to some other piece of gear. Today I happened to have a Victorinox Alox Mini Champ in one pocket, a Victorinox Alox Cadet in the other, and a Case 6344 Medium Stockman in a back pocket.

So, three last resorts.

 

[Blake the Blade]

My classic or mini-champ (not really sure actually) has many useful tools, but currently languishes on a keyring full of stuff that, though also useful, is not used on a daily basis and is, therefore, not carried. To be perfectly honest, and this might sound a bit shallow, I'm not really keen on the colour which I can only describe as a sort of midwife green. Another good reason for finding a leather case for it...

Untitled by Mark Saunders, on Flickr

...No offence to midwives.....I'm just not one.

 

[Camillus]

I would love to see GEC produce a #22 with a bail. I would carry it on a key ring for sure.

PS just thought I would mention that the cadet fits in the coin pocket in my wallet and I never take it out unless flying. It's more handy than a key ring and it's comforting to know it's always there.

 

[supratentorial]

Remember the old counter top displays?

 

[jackknife]

Remember the old counter top displays?

Aw man, that's them!!!!

They were everywhere when I was a kid. The poor mans Classic of the era. Those, and the little one and two glad jacks with the fake plastic pearl or cracked ice scales.

 

[The Zieg]

I had the Trim Trio knife in brass on my keys for a couple of years. Came in a grooming kit I got for my Bar Mitzvah in '80 and it got packed away somewhere for a long time. Then I found it, clipped it to my keys and used it in my 30s. One distracted trip through airport security and goodbye.

Now I have a scale-less Vic Classic on my Subaru key. The file is broken off leaving only scissors and blade. Its a beater but saves the day when needed.

Zieg

 

[Sonnemann]

To be perfectly honest, and this might sound a bit shallow, I'm not really keen on the colour which I can only describe as a sort of midwife green. Another good reason for finding a leather case for it...

...No offence to midwives.....I'm just not one.

Having spent a lot of money on such things for the Mrs., looks like the Tiffany's box color. You sure it isn't one of their collaborations? I know they also made some Classics in sterling that were sold through Tiffany's.

 

[Blake the Blade]

Having spent a lot of money on such things for the Mrs., looks like the Tiffany's box color. You sure it isn't one of their collaborations? I know they also made some Classics in sterling that were sold through Tiffany's.

That's very interesting Sonnemann. I got it on line cheep and it came with two pairs of tweezers, a pair in the front and a pair in the back. I'm pretty sure I've tried putting a toothpick in but I don't think they're interchangeable. So maybe it is one produced for the ladies, I don't know. Conjecture. Thanks. :thumbup: